Few quilting artists have all the time they want for creating fiber art & quilts. But accomplishing more--while still enjoying it and doing a good job--is often a matter of efficiency rather than speed. Here are some ways to work smarter and more efficiently without rushing or taking shortcuts that...

What does the terms " sewing appliques " mean to you? Do you think of hand applique? Machine applique? The applique stitch? An example of raw-edge applique by Jane LaFazio. There are many types of applique, from the traditional by-hand techniques to the fused or raw-edge applique methods preferred...

If I told you to go to your LQS to get some PFD so you could finish your ATC you HSY, would you know what I was talking about? Quilters use many abbreviations to communicate basic quilting terms. Some are practical: you don't want to have to write (or repeat) "half-square triangles" over...

A Note from Vivika: Our online editor, Cate Prato, has recently delved into traditional quilting techniques including adventures in binding. I asked her to share her experience with you . When it comes to quilt finishing , I've always resorted to an easy quilt binding like the pillowcase method....

As the days grow shorter here in New England, we're drawn to the warmth of firelight: from candles flickering inside grinning jack-o-lanterns to cozy nights by hearth. This is the time when I like to make fabric crafts with my kids and home décor fiber art projects to welcome friends and family...

How do you find time to work on your fabric art ? It's a question I hear often (sometimes in my own head). Turn painted fabric into fabric art in 5 minutes. We'd all love hours to spend in our studios--but that's not realistic for most who aren't full-time artists. So how do you find...

Do you long to make a quilt but don't know where to start? Or do you have a friend who could use a few lessons on quilting for beginners? We have the perfect starter's guide, and it includes free quilt patterns for beginners! In The Beginner's Quilting Guide Plus 4 Free Quilt Patterns for...

Spring is such a busy time of year: graduations, wedding showers, barbecues, the end of the school year, and so on. It seems I always need an idea for a quick gift for a teacher, hostess, or guest of honor. That's when my bin of fabric scraps and list of fabric art projects come to the rescue. A...

Of all the ways of finishing a quilt , creating a facing will give an art quilt the most contemporary, clean look, says Susan Brubaker Knapp. Butterfly quilt by Susan Brubaker Knapp. Facing gives the quilt a more contemporary finish than a quilt binding. Susan, who admits to actually enjoying the quilt...

What is modern quilting? There's no set definition. Typically, though, modern quilts have large fields of solid colors, take an improvisational approach to cutting and piecing, and highlight contemporary commercial fabrics. Modern Mountains Quilt by Krista Fleckenstein. One thing's for certain...

What's black and white and fun all over? One of Jamie Fingal's quilts. "A Slice of Old Town Charm" by Jamie Fingal. This fused piece has no traditional quilt binding, just stitching along the edge. Jamie considers herself a rebel quilter , saying "no" to batting, bindings...

When you make a quilt, at some point you will have to consider the quilt binding . You may opt for an elaborate binding that makes an impact on the overall design, a simple and subtle binding, or no binding at all. When binding a small quilt, such as a postcard, it's usually best to keep it simple...

Our foremothers knew how to make a quilt using only what they had, from scraps of fabric to natural dyes. But, quilt making the frugal and eco-friendly way was easier for them: they didn't have much of a choice. Pioneer women didn't have fabric stores, and even our own mothers didn't have...

Every Tuesday, the teams from Quilting Arts , Cloth Paper Scissors , and Stitch magazines gather in the common area of our office space for show and tell. Each week, we ooh and aah over projects big and small — from handmade quilts to encaustic experiments to toss pillow covers. Handmade quilt...

I may have mentioned that binding a quilt is my least favorite part of the quilt-making process. But I've realized that if I'm going to reduce the number of UFOs in my studio, I'm going to have to learn how to bind a quilt in a way that I enjoy. Jane Dávila uses a hand sewn "chicken...